Strong gush of wind attacked her even if the windows
weren't open. As sudden as the wind, the wall broke, revealing a ruthless bloody
eyes staring at her. Sharp, big, and scaly hand reached out to her.

She was frozen in fright.

The hand enveloped her body easily.

'Bloody August.' The name brought chill on her bones. When
she's in its hand, she understood why people were so afraid of it. It could
crush her body anytime it feel like it. Slowly but surely, her feet lose her
footing as Bloody August flied away. 'No, I'm afraid. Release me.'

The dragon flied away, leaving her homeland, Totocanta.
Cold wind brushed past her leaving goose bumps on its trail. The dragon's grip
around her tightens, making her lose consciousness. Her lips moved in unvoiced
word as the darkness enveloped her.

'Orphen.'

Cleo Everlasting sat up suddenly on her bed with ragged
breath. One hand automatically reached out for the blanket, she let her eyes
roam the room she was in.

No. There's no Bloody August.

Bloody August had long gone. Azalie-san had turned back to
human and had returned to Tower of Fangs. The other occupant of the room only
her faithful little partner. Leki scratched her arms in attempt to sooth his
frighten master.

Cleo smiled to her little partner. Her finger let off the
death grip on the blanket and moved to petted Leki. "I'm okay, Leki. Sorry for
waking you up."

"Auu?" The
dragon cub answered. He looked at his master with curious emerald eyes.

Cleo didn't answer, she scratched Leki's ears, making the
cub forget about his earlier curiosity and purred in delight. His purr stopped
when Cleo stopped her treatment.

"Ne, Leki. I'm
going down to get some water." Cleo climbed down the huge bed and walk out.
Leki jumped from the bouncy bed and followed his master. In the dark kitchen,
Cleo sat on the counter with glass of water on her hand. Leki jumped to his
favorite place, on his master's lap.

"It's been
a long time since I have that dream." She mused silently, her idle hand
scratching Leki's head. "Why I dream about it now?"

Yes, she had a series of bad dreams concerning Bloody
August after her kidnapping. She had been very afraid. Who wouldn't? The dreams
had lessened along with growing sympathy for Azalie-san when Orphen told her
and Majic about the story. To dream about it now was weird.

Cleo sighed. There was no use on thinking about the past.
Everything had passed and now she, Orphen and Majic were traveling happily. If
Orphen and Majic knew she had been afraid of a dream, they would laugh at her.
She put her empty glass on the counter and picked the sleeping Leki carefully.

She went to her room but her feet stopped at somebody
else's room.

Orphen's room.

Cleo wondered if she should annoy Orphen in the middle of
the night. Will he be angry? … Well, their fights weren't something unusual.
Before they went to their respective room three or four hours ago, they already
had their tenth fight. What's wrong on adding another fight?

Cleo opened the door silently. She was being extra
careful, she didn't want Orphen to wake up and attack her with his magic. That
would be bad. She peeked around the room before walked slowly to the bed.

Orphen was sleeping like a kid. His blanket sprawled
around him and his mouth opened a little. The fact that Orphen didn't wear his
shirt didn't bother Cleo.

"Orphen,
Orphen." Cleo whispered. Orphen muttered something intelligible under his breath
before settling back to sleep. Cleo raised her voice a little. "Orphen."

This time, Orphen opened his eyes though he looked kinda
dazed. "Wha Cleo?"

I don't want to be alone but she answered, "I want to
talk."

Orphen groaned. "Tomorrow." He answered before closing his
eyes again.

Cleo didn't want to go back to sleep, afraid if the dream
continue. She looked at Orphen, feeling rather irritated. Maybe she should tell
Leki to attack him. Nah, it's in the middle of the night. Rather than that …

Cleo looked at the unused part of the bed. She put Leki
carefully so she wouldn't wake up both her partners. The bed could still fit
another person.

While Cleo weighing the choices, Orphen spoke up again.

"Cleo, if you
want you can sleep here but don't kick me." Cleo almost jumped when she heard
Orphen spoke up. She thought he was in his dreamland.

Orphen turned around showing his back to the agape Cleo.
'Orphen must be talking in his sleep just now.'

… but she couldn't decline the offer even if Orphen didn't
make it consciously. She crept under the blanket and curling up under the
warmth. Orphen's deep breathings brought peace to Cleo as sleep started to
attack her again. She turned to face Orphen's back before the sweet darkness
enveloped her again. But she's not afraid this time.